Cults and New Religions by Cowan, Douglas E.; Bromley, David G.;

Short description:

Cults and New Religions offers an overview of the history and development of eight new religious movements in the late twentieth century: the Church of Scientology, Transcendental Meditation, Unificationism, The Family International, the Ramtha School of Enlightenment, the Branch Davidians, Heaven's Gate, and Wicca.

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Long description:

An overview of the development of new religions and the controversies surrounding them in late modern society.



A stimulating, course-friendly overview of the history and development of new religious movements (NRMs) in the late twentieth century
Explores eight cults and NRMs, including the Church of Scientology, Transcendental Meditation, Unificationism, The Family International, the Ramtha School of Enlightenment, the Branch Davidians, Heaven s Gate, and Wicca
Each chapter reviews the origins, leaders, beliefs, rituals and practices of a NRM, highlighting the specific controversies surrounding this group
Covers debates including what constitutes an authentic religion, the validity of claims of brainwashing techniques, the implications of experimentation with unconventional sexual practices, and the deeply rooted cultural fears that cults engender.

Cults and New Religions offers an overview of the history and development of eight new religious movements in the late twentieth century: the Church of Scientology, Transcendental Meditation, Unificationism, The Family International, the Ramtha School of Enlightenment, the Branch Davidians, Heaven s Gate, and Wicca.

The book profiles each new religion, describing its origins, doctrines and rituals, leadership and organization. Each chapter includes a discussion of one of the major sources of controversy surrounding these movements, controversies that have led to them being popularly regarded as cults : whether they are indeed authentic religions, the validity of claims that brainwashing techniques are used to gain and retain members, their potential for violence, the implications of experimentation with unconventional sexual practices, and the deeply rooted cultural fears they engender.

"This is a remarkably good book. It is probably the best introduction to the study of new religions available, providing a concise yet surprisingly comprehensive and thoughtful description of the very groups, issues, and controversies that most scholars and students wish to understand better. Engagingly written, and impeccably researched, the book shatters stereotypes and captures the true diversity of new forms of religious life in modern western societies."


Lorne L. Dawson, University of Waterloo

"This well written book provides the busy reader with a reliable introduction to the complex and often highly emotionally charged issue surrounding the discussion of cults, sects and new religions. Anyone with limited time needing to understand the crux of the issue will find a wealth of resources and valuable insights in this excellent book."
Irving Hexham, Liverpool Hope University

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Table of Contents:

1. Cults and New Religions: A Primer.

The Range of New Religious Movements.

Controversy and the Popular Perception of New Religious Movements.

2. The Church of Scientology: The Question of Religion.

L. Ron Hubbard and the Origins of Scientology.

Beliefs and Practices of the Church of Scientology.

The Organizational Structure of the Church of Scientology.

The Church of Scientology and the Question of Religion.

Further Reading on the Church of Scientology.

3. Transcendental Meditation: The Questions of Science and Therapy.

Maharishi Mahesh Yogi and the Arrival of Transcendental Meditation.

Beliefs and Practices of Transcendental Meditation.

The Growth and Development of Transcendental Meditation.

Transcendental Meditation: The Questions of Science and Therapy.

Further Reading on Transcendental Meditation.

4. Ramtha and the New Age: The Question of the Dangerous Cult.

Who Is JZ Knight and Who Is Ramtha?.

History and Development of Ramtha s School of Enlightenment.

Beliefs and Practices of Ramtha s School of Enlightenment.

RSE and the Question of the Dangerous Cult.

Further Reading on the New Age Movement.

5. The Unification Church/The Family Federation: The Brainwashing/Deprogramming Controversy.

Sun Myung Moon: Savior from the East.

Doctrinal Beliefs and Ritual Practices of the Unification Church.

The Growth and Organization of the Unification Church Outside Korea.

Brainwashing, Deprogramming, and the Unification Church.

Further Reading on the Unification Church.

6. The Children of God/The Family International: The Issue of Sexuality.

Mo: David Berg and the Origins of the Children of God.

Social Organization of the Children of God/The Family.

Beliefs, Rituals, and Practices of the Children of God/The Family.

The Children of God/The Family and the Issue of Sexuality.

Further Reading on the Children of God/The Family.

7. The Branch Davidians: The Problem of Mass Media.

The Historical Development of the Branch Davidians.

Beliefs and Practices of the Branch Davidians under David Koresh.

The Siege at Waco and the Problem of Mass Media.

Further Reading on the Branch Davidians.

8. Heaven s Gate: The Question of Cults and Violence.

Ti, Do, and the Origins of Heaven s Gate.

Beliefs and Practices of Heaven s Gate.

Recruitment and Social Organization in Heaven s Gate.

The Evolutionary Level Above Human: The Continuum of New Religious Movements and Violence.

Further Reading on UFO Groups.

9. Wicca and Witchcraft: Confronting Cultural Fears.

Gerald Gardner and the Origins of Modern Witchcraft.

Social Organization and Development of Modern Witchcraft and Wicca.

Beliefs, Rituals, and Practices of Modern Witchcraft and Wicca.

Satanic Panic: The Legacy of Religious Cult Fears.

Further Reading on Wicca and Witchcraft.

10. Rethinking Cults: The Significance of New Religious Movements.

Two Perspectives: Cults versus New Religious Movements.

New Religions as Experimental Faiths.

Further Reading on New Religious Movements.

Bibliography.

Index

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